Can-tongs.



A. A. POTT'BRP.

CAN TONGS. APPLICATION FILED 1m. a1. 1906.

Wm [27W PATBNTED JULY 2, 1907.

I Inventor Q m a azzwm. 05

UNITED STATES ALBERT A. POTTERF, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

CAI\TTONGS.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed March 31, 1906. Serial No. 309,135.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. POTTERF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in can tongs.

The object of my invention is to provide can tongs by which articles, such as cans, may be grasped and placed upon or removed from shelves which are out of reach of the person removing or depositing the goods.

My invention provides a handle having two jaws movable one toward and from the other, a longitudinally movable rod carried by the handle for moving the movable jaw, and releasable means by which the rod may be held against movement, thus enabling the jaws to hold securely the article grasped between them.

Other novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrative of the invention-Figure l is a side elevation view showing the instrument affixed to a can setting upon a shelf. Fig. 2 is an elevation view taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rod locking mechanism and portions of the rod and handle. Fig. 4 is a cross section view taken on the dotted line ab of Fig. 1.

1 denotes the handle having affixed to one end of it two jaws 3, one movable toward and from the other and both preferably pivotally connected to the handle 1 by a transverse bolt 4.

Reciprocative lengthwise on the handle is a rod 2 pivotally connected by means of two links 5 to the jaws 3, said links 5 being pivotally connected respectively by rivets 6 to one set of ends respectively of the jaws 3, the other set of ends being provided with curved portions 7, adapted to embrace opposite sides of a can or similar device 8 resting upon an elevated shelf 9. The inner or lower ends of the links 5 are pivotally secured to the upper end of the rod 2, which may be 'reciprocated lengthwise for the purpose of swinging the jaws 3 to and fro. The preferable means for reciprocating said rod comprises a lever 10 of bell crank form, the upper end being bifurcated so as to embrace opposite sides of the handle 1, to which the lever is pivoted, by means of a transverse bolt 11. To the lever 10, adjacent its angle, is pivotally secured the lower end of the rod 2.

Secured to the inner side of the lever 10 is one end of a flat spring 12, the other end of which bears against the handle 1 and normally swings the lever 10 in a direction such that the rod 2 will be moved lengthwise so as to swing apart the jaws 3.

On the handle I provide a locking device for holding the rod 2 against lengthwise movement, said locking device comprising the following described mechanism :On one side of the handle is secured a longitudinally disposed plate 13, having two laterally extending parallel ears 14, between which the rod 2 extends and between which is pivoted on a transverse pin 15, a locking lever 16, having a cam face 17 disposed eccentrically relative to the pin 15 and adapted, when the lever 16 is properly swung, to bear against and tightly clamp the rod 2 against the plate 13.

In operating my invention the jaws 3 are disposed so as to embrace opposite sides of the can or other article that it is desired to grasp after which the lever 10 is gripped by the hand so as to be swung toward the handle 1, thus compressing the spring 12 and closing the time the compressed spring 12 will force the rod 2 in a direction such that the links 5 will swing the jaws 3 apart, thus releasing the article 8.

Various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In can tongs, the combination with a handle, of two jaws pivoted thereon so as to swing toward and from each other, a longitudinally movable rod pivotally connected to said jaws, a spring for moving said rod lengthwise in one direction, and releasable means for gripping said rod.

2. In can tongs, the combination with a handle, of two jaws pivoted thereon so as to swing toward and from each other, a longitudinally movable rod pivotally connected to said jaws, a spring for forcing said rod in one direction, and a locking lever pivoted to the handle and provided with means, when swung in the proper direction, for gripping said rod.

3. In can tongs, the combination with a handle, of two jaws pivoted thereon, a longitudinally movable rod pivotally connected to said jaws, an operating lever pivoted to the handle and connected to said rod, and releasable means intermediate the jaws and operating lever for grip ping said rod.

4. In can tongs, the combination with a handle, of two jaws pivoted thereon, a longitudinally movable rod pivotally connected to said jaws, an operating lever connected to said rod and pivoted to said handle, and a locking lever pivoted to the handle intermediate the jaws and operating lever and provided with means, when swung in the proper,

direction, for gripping said rod.

5. In can tongs, the combination with a handle, of two jaws pivoted thereon, a 'longitudinally movable rod, two links pivotally connected to said jaws respectively and to said rod, an operating lever connected to said rod and piv oted to said handle, and releasable means intermediate the jaws and operating lever for gripping said rod.

6. In can tongs, the combination with a handle, of two jaws pivoted thereon, :1 longitudinally movable rod, two

links pivotally connected to said jaws respectively and to said rod, an operating lever connected to said rod and pivoted to said handle, and a locking lever pivoted to the handle intermediate the jaws and operating lever and provided with means, when swung in the proper direction, for gripping said rod 7. In can tongs, the combination with a handle, of two jaws pivoted thereon, a longitudinally movable rod, two links pivotally connected to said jaws respectively and to said rod, an operating lever connected to said rod and pivoted to said handle, a spring for swinging said lever in one direction, and releasable means intermediate the jaws and operating lever for gripping said rod.

8. In can tongs, the combination with a handle, of two jaws pivoted thereon, a longitudinally movable rod, two links pivotally connected to the jaws respectively and to said rod, an operating lever connected to said rod and pivoted to said handle, a spring for swinging said lever in one direction, and a locking lever pivoted to said handle intermediate the jaws and operating lever and provided with means for releasably gripping said rod.

In testimony whereof I aihx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT A. PO'lilEllF.

Witnesses E. B. Hnusn, HENRY F. Rosn. 

